"I feel like I worked for this moment": QB signee Bryce Underwood addresses speculations about $12 million deal and the pressures that come with it

Michigan quarterback signee Bryce Underwood has put to bed suggestions that he might feel pressured by the weight of his $12 million NIL deal. The five-star recruit out of Belleville High School responded to questions on the deal on the show Kicking It With Dee on Dec. 23.

He was asked how he was handling the pressure of the deal. He said (17:03):

“I feel like I worked for this moment, you know. So there really is no pressure honestly.”

Bryce Underwood was presented with what has been described as the “Godfather offer” as part of Michigan’s efforts to recruit him. The deal, valued at $12 million, includes funding from the founder of Barstool Sports, Dave Portnoy, and the program’s NIL collective.

The unprecedented value of the deal has been cited as a major factor in Underwood’s decision to declare for the Wolverines.

How Michigan managed to flip Bryce Underwood from LSU

The five-star quarterback previously committed to the LSU Tigers in Jan. 2024. He chose the Tigers over offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State. However, the Wolverines were undeterred and refused to back down in their pursuit.

The program’s desperation to sign Underwood became more pronounced with the poor showing of its quarterbacks this season. The Wolverines faltered from an undefeated season in 2023, which saw them crowned B1G and national champions, to a disappointing 7-5 regular-season finish in 2024.

To successfully flip Underwood from LSU, the Wolverines also enlisted the help of influential names like NFL's legendary quarterback Tom Brady. According to reports, Brady and Underwood had discussions over the phone and developed a sort of mentor-mentee relationship.

The billionaire co-founder of Oracle, Larry Ellison, is another name that has been linked to one of the most remarkable recruiting maneuvers of the 2025 cycle.

With the Wolverines eventually getting their target, a major reshuffling has begun in the program’s quarterback room. Junior quarterback Alex Orji has entered the transfer portal while true freshman Jadyn Davis is being rumored to follow suit.

Veteran quarterback Mikey Keene has arrived at Ann Arbor from the transfer portal. There are speculations that Keene may have been brought to compete with Bryce Underwood for the starting quarterback role ahead of next season. However, it is more plausible that he was brought in as Underwood’s experienced guide into college football.